Brian Till, MD

“I place great value in developing a trusting relationship with each patient.”

— Dr. Till

Why do you practice oncology?

I was impressed with the doctors who treated me for various illnesses when I was growing up. They were friendly, caring and knowledgeable; I wanted to be able to help others in the same way. In college, I pursued my interest in science and enjoyed some early research experiences, so a career in medicine seemed ideal. During my internal medicine residency, I found that the relationships I developed with patients who had cancer were the most meaningful. Medical oncology was an easy choice and it continues to fulfill me.

What do you want patients to know about working with you?

Open communication forms the core of our relationship. Just as I share with you my insight about your diagnosis and treatment options, I hope you’ll share with me your concerns, hopes, fears and questions. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to cancer care, so my goal is to design a personalized treatment plan based on the evidence and what makes sense for you. I also believe that it’s important to discuss participation in clinical trials, because they are the only way to develop better therapies for cancer. Joining one can benefit you now, since it may be your best option for treatment, and it may also lead to the next breakthrough for future patients.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Adult blood and marrow transplantation, cellular immunotherapy, hematologic malignancies

Lymphomas

I am a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in treating patients with lymphomas. Since 2006, I have been developing new immunotherapies that teach a patient’s own T cells (immune system cells) to target tumors. We engineer these T cells to carry a gene called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which swarms and kills cancer. I led the first published trial testing CAR T-cell therapy as a treatment for patients with lymphoma and the first human trial using third-generation CARs, which were more potent. The hope is that what we learn in the lab can be applied to patients with other cancers besides lymphomas. In addition to providing patient care at Fred Hutch and conducting research, I am also a member of the SWOG Lymphoma Committee.